Van Biljon – Stellenbosch, South Africa

This small boutique farm is situated in the Polkadraai region of Stellenbosch neighbouring esteemed producers like Reyneke and De Toren. The region is known for it’s deep, fertile and well drained decomposed granitic soils and moderating sea breezes off False Bay lying to the South. The farm has been planted with all five classic Bordeaux varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. They are exposed to a cooling sea breeze that gives the grapes ample time to develop character and complex flavours for harvesting and as a result they harvest 2-4 weeks later than the norm for the area. Harvesting is done by hand and only the finest bunches are picked to ensure quality over quantity. In the cellar as much as possible is done manually with minimal mechanical intervention during fermentation. After a gentle press the wine is allowed to mature in oak barrels for between 18-24 months. The bespoke blend is selected from the very best barrels, again with the emphasis on quality.